Following the release trophy at Roland Garros the Perrier 25.08.2007, several good practices have emerged. After several failures, we tried to understand what to do or not:

Telephoto - Budget

Above all, the use of a telephoto lens has proved invaluable. There are different budgets for the type lenses 70-200 2.8 stabilized are very comfortable but not absolutely essential when light is sufficient (25, bright sun, first real summer day in Paris).

For example, I disabled the RV that had no interest because the shutter speeds available. I was able to save a lot of batteries.

Opening and light

We saw a normal telephoto lens with an aperture (4-6) would have been the case, do not forget to use a lower opening to the original to enjoy the maximum return on its target , players and players deserve a dive optimum in gestures such as setbacks, services, etc. ...

This is obviously even more true with the large aperture telephoto for which the depth of field may become very limited and affect the overall sharpness of the image.

Exposure

Regarding the show, I had a surprise by using the matrix mode (user who is an average over the stage and chose an appropriate value), the backgrounds, the contrast with the dirt course and held the players did not mix.

In going back to center-weighted mode (less radical than the central or "spot"), the results are again much more accurate.

Work in aperture priority mode allows you to choose an appropriate value to the desired depth of field while keeping an eye on speed, not too let down, but center-weighted metering allowed me to have a correct exposure white outfits players and avoid clichés exposed.

Avoiding pitfalls of grounds:

A land on which the matches took place was half shaded a real trap if you decided to follow the ball and take pictures of each side, the difference in brightness forces you to constantly change your settings. If you want to have 2 players (or players) to their advantage, they exchange wait for later (when the amount of games in the score is odd if I remember correctly, thank you Punker).

AF Setting

A very delicate! must obviously know all the intricacies of your couple camera / lens. Reflexes are now filled with digital sensors and technology to make your job easier, provided you make the right choice.

Canon on reflexes, AI servo seems to be the best compromise. It defines an area over which the device is the point in continuing until the picture is taken.

At Nikon, we must choose the mode of the continuous AF (AF-C) and choose the collimator (in your viewfinder) on which the development will continue to monitor the movements of the player. There are subtleties and variations of these functions that allow for better tracking of the movement, open your manuals ...

Note: When a player serves, there is little chance that his distance from you changes dramatically and it may be advantageous to completely disable the AF when the point is made correctly. Once the player has moved, remember to repeat the development.

Privacy - use of the burst

This point appeared to us naturally, but that should be clarified. Of course, silence reigns. Remember to cut your phone, and when you start follow the concentration of players in the critical phases (preparation service, end of passing, rest between games, ...). It would mess to get noticed and help defeat a player.

Change of perspective

Advice that is valid at all times when doing the photo, but lie on the ground when the ground permits, gain height by climbing up the stands during the neighbor, can well vary types of pictures and frames.

Keep an eye on the ball

Actually no, especially keep an eye on your viewfinder, but ultimately the pictures on which the ball is present (rarely sharp) have a much more interesting dynamic than those who catch a flick. Then we can not have it every time, especially when trying to focus on expressions of the players.

That is, if I told it stupidity or lack of useful information, please fill in your answers (eg your tips AF settings depending on the brand of your equipment, etc ....)